THE BAND
BLACK

Artistry leads. AI enhances. Humans perform...

An entire generation has never experienced the energy of a live R&B band as the artist. We're bringing it back. World-class musicians. AI-assisted music. Real development. Real performances. Built on the Music Education Initiative's proven workforce development model—training musicians and crew, creating sustainable careers, changing lives through music.

What We Stand For

7-8
Live Musicians
100%
Human Performance
Q2
2026 Tour Debut
Possibilities

"We're not replacing musicians. We're elevating them. AI supports the foundation. Elite performers bring it to life. Legendary mentors push them beyond what they thought possible. That's the movement."

The Journey

From auditions to rehearsals to stage. Steps documented. Moments transparent. You don't just discover the band—you watch it being built.

01
The Innovation

AI helps create songs with new inspiration and sounds. Challenges musicians with complex arrangements. Every song has a musician's touch—not "prompt and play." Revenue from live shows and vinyl, not streaming.

02
The Auditions

Public auditions for elite musicians. Documented on TikTok and YouTube.

03
The Development

Learning AI-assisted music elevates musicians—challenging accuracy, exposing new rhythms. Guided by Bar-Kays founder James Alexander and artist development expert AJ Alexander who trained Usher.

04
The Performance

Q2 2026 tour debut. Live band. Real instruments. Human energy. The R&B band revolution revived for a new generation.

The Sound

AI helps create music with new inspiration and sounds. Challenges musicians with complex arrangements. Exposes a new generation to music different from today's mainstream. Then real musicians bring it to life with their touch. Revenue comes from live shows and vinyl—not streaming pennies.

Get Your Back Up Off The Wall (Demo)
The Band Black · Get Your Back Up Off The Wall (Demo)
Do Better Together (Demo)
The Band Black · Do Better Together (Demo)
Not Enough (Demo)
The Band Black · Not Enough (demo) .mp3

Full Playlist

The Band Black · The Band Black

Watch It Happen

The entire journey documented. From the announcement to the auditions to the first performance. Be part of the story.

The Movement Begins

First Member | Will You Be First

📹 PERFORMANCE VIDEO HERE
(Little Rock | Road to Recognition Tour)

Follow @TheBandBlack on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for daily updates

How We're Using AI

AI will never replace the authentic live music experience. But it can help us create better songs. We use AI as ethically as possible—as a tool to write, create efficiently, elevate production, and expose people to new rhythms. Then real musicians perform it live with their touch. Revenue comes from live shows and vinyl, not streaming. That's where the magic happens. That's how AI should work.

— AI helps create better songs for live performance

— Every song has a musician's touch

— Challenges musicians with new rhythms & accuracy

— Revenue from live shows & vinyl, not streaming

— Exposes audiences to sounds different from mainstream

The Infrastructure Behind The Movement

The Band Black is powered by The Music Education Initiative (The MEI)—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that trains the next generation of music industry professionals and creates sustainable careers.

Workforce Development

Training production students and touring crew. Creating real jobs in lighting, sound, stage management, and logistics. Building sustainable careers beyond the stage.

Artist Development Pipeline

From student to professional. The Band Black continues MEI’s mission: train musicians, develop their skills, and offer paid positions for qualified performers..

Regional Impact

Northwest Arkansas to the Mississippi Delta. Training local talent. Creating opportunities. Economic development through music education.

Touring Infrastructure

Road to Recognition Tour (2025 success, 2026 expansion). Owned tour coach. Venue relationships. The foundation is built.

Support The Mission

MEI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Tax-deductible donations support musician training, workforce development, and creating sustainable careers in music.

Partner With The MEI

The Partnership

The Band Black is a partnership between visionaries with complementary strengths—combining artistic innovation with strategic infrastructure to build something sustainable and scalable.

GT Thompson

Co-Founder | Vision & Artistry

Songwriter, producer, artist development. Creates the music, leads creative direction, mentors production students. Majesty Music focus.

Orson Weems

Co-Founder | Network & Strategy

The MEI Executive Director. Partnerships, business development, touring infrastructure. Builds the network that makes it sustainable. MEI focus.

"GT creates the vision and the art. I build the infrastructure and partnerships that make it sustainable. Together, we're proving you can innovate with AI while creating real opportunities for musicians and crew."

— Orson Weems, Co-Founder & MEI Executive Director

Join The Movement

We're seeking elite musicians for paid positions. Salaries, touring income, merchandise revenue, content fees. Development guided by industry legends. Q2 2026 tour debut.

Open Positions:

Audition Now

Development Starts Immediately | Tour Debuts Q2 2026

Connect With Us

General Inquiries & Auditions:
[email protected]
Artistic Development & Production Training:
GT Thompson: [email protected]
Partnerships, Booking & The MEI Support:
Orson Weems: [email protected]
Press Release